Externally accessible memory card reader for GPS device

ABSTRACT

A memory card reader assembly for a device having a GPS component includes a housing having an exterior wall and defining two interior compartments. A jack for a memory card is secured within one compartment, and the housing includes a slot for enabling insertion of a memory card through the housing wall and into the jack. That compartment, including the slot, is sealed to prevent fluid entry into the compartment.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

This invention relates to a meter for motorcycles or the like. The meterincorporates many functions, including computation and display of speed,distance, direction, altitude, temperature and other engine data. Themeter also incorporates a global positioning system (“GPS”), andfeatures 3D mapping that is readily viewed, customized and shared. Themeter features a robust, off-road design that is crash resistant.Aspects of the invention include:

-   -   (a) a flexible power supply that, among other things, accepts        both AC and DC power sources to simultaneously energize a        vehicle computer and charge a redundant battery;    -   (b) an externally accessible waterproof, fault tolerant Micro SD        card reader for use with a GPS device;    -   (c) a GPS data logger that uses engine data sensors to manage        the recording of GPS track data; and    -   (d) a mounting assembly that positions the meter for convenient        viewing by the user, but in a location where the meter is most        likely to remain mounted even in the event of a motorcycle        crash.

While a portion of the following description relates to a meter for anoff-road motorcycle, the term “vehicle” will often be used since it iscontemplated that the meter and the advantages provided can be used withother motorized vehicles, including conventional street-typemotorcycles, four-wheel drive vehicles, and ATVs. Similarly, the term“computer” will be interchangeably used here with the term “meter.”

(a) Power Supply

There is a growing demand for embedded instrumentation systems onmotorcycles and other small, gasoline-powered vehicles. Moderninstrumentation systems are implemented using embedded computing systemsto monitor sensors, perform data conversion and display real timeinformation to the vehicle's operator. An example includes a simplespeedometer that monitors a wheel speed sensor, converts the rotationalfrequency of the wheel to a speed and displays the speed to theoperator.

Advanced instrumentation features, such as global positioning, requiresignificantly higher computational effort by the embedded computingsystem. As a result, the power requirements of computers implementingsuch advanced features increase as well.

The vehicle's electrical power is generated using a coil winding, calleda stator, positioned inside a magnetic field. The magnetic field isgenerated by a rotating series of permanent magnets attached to theengine's flywheel. This produces an alternating current (AC) powersource that is used by the motorcycle to power its electrical system.Since the incandescent light bulbs used in headlights can be drivendirectly by AC power, many motorcycles use AC power directly for theirelectrical system. As a result, any computer or meter system added tosuch a motorcycle must be capable of utilizing an AC power supply.

In contrast, some motorcycles provide electric starters as a convenienceto the vehicle's operator. Electric starters require a stored energysource in the form of a rechargeable battery to drive the starter.However, batteries are not compatible with AC power systems. Instead,the AC power produced by the stator must be converted to direct current(DC) using a regulator/rectifier. A computer installed on such amotorcycle would need to harness the DC power system in order to operateproperly.

The power systems found on motorcycles and other small vehiclestypically produce noisy or “dirty” voltage regulation. Vehicles with ACpower systems frequently use a shunt regulator to limit the peak voltagepresent on the power system. Shunt regulators interact with the statorsto produce brief high voltage spikes. Incandescent lamps are notaffected by these voltage spikes, but semiconductor electronics (i.e. anon-board computer or meter) can be destroyed by them.

In addition, DC power systems can produce large voltage spikes when aheavy load is quickly removed from the system, such as when headlightsare turned off. Also, it is possible for the battery to be installed orconnected backwards in the system, thus creating a reverse biascondition on any electronic device attached. This too can destroy acomputer's electronics.

A power supply can be unreliable on motorcycles and other smallvehicles. It is not uncommon for an electrical system's wires to bedamaged by mechanical abrasion or excessive engine heat. In addition tomechanical failure, vehicle batteries typically have small energycapacities, so they can be quickly depleted by headlights or a startermotor. Further, vehicle batteries wear out over time and can failunexpectedly.

To overcome these reliability issues, the computer should provide abattery to serve as a redundant power source in the event of thevehicle's power system failure. The electrical current capability of thecomputer's power system must be able to operate the unit and charge thebattery at the same time. This effectively doubles the power handlingrequirements of the computer's power system.

In the past, most power systems were designed to handle only DC powersources, and applying AC power to such systems will destroy them. Inhigh-current DC applications, switched mode power supplies (SMPS) areused to efficiently convert a high input voltage to a lower outputvoltage. Unfortunately, the controllers that drive SMPS are sensitive tothe harsh electrical environment found in motorcycles. As a result,additional protection circuits are required.

Some motorcycle computer or meter devices can utilize both AC and DCpower sources. This is implemented using a two-stage power converter.First a bridge rectifier transforms the AC or DC input into anintermediate DC output voltage. Next, a voltage-limiting linearregulator regulates the intermediate DC voltage to a lower outputvoltage appropriate for the computer's electronics. This approach issimple, low-cost, and provides fault protection. However, the linearregulator stage is inefficient and will quickly overheat if the loadcurrent becomes excessive. Also, such systems use non-rechargeableprimary batteries as a redundant power source. Therefore, batterycharging does not add to the load experienced by the computer's powersupply.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of one embodiment of a power supplyconfigured in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram for illustrating the cooperative interaction of thelinear regulator and switched mode power supply (SMPS) components of thepower supply.

FIG. 3 is a front view of a meter that incorporates an SD memory cardaccess configuration in accord with the present invention.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged cross sectional view taken along line B2-B2 ofFIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is an exploded, back-side-up view of the meter that incorporatesthe invention.

FIG. 6 is a view of the interior of a cover part of a sealablecompartment that houses an SD card reader.

FIG. 7 is a diagram of a system for accurately logging GPS track data.

FIG. 8 is flow diagram for explaining the operation of the system.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a prior art approach to mounting aGPS-enabled device to a motorcycle handlebar.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a handlebar mount formed in accord withthe present invention and employed to support a GPS device adjacent tothe central portion of the handlebar.

FIG. 11 is a side view of the mount and GPS device shown in FIG. 9.

FIG. 12 is a front view of the mount and GPS device shown in FIG. 9.

FIG. 13 is a perspective view of a handlebar mount formed in accord withthe present invention, with the GPS device removed to permitillustration of the mounting surface of a platform component of themount.

FIG. 14 is a perspective view of a bracket component of the mount.

FIG. 15 is a perspective view of the platform component of the mount.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION: POWER SUPPLY

One embodiment of a power supply 20 designed in accordance with thepresent invention is depicted schematically in FIG. 1. The power supply20 consists of four stages. The first stage is a bridge rectifier 22that converts any AC power input 26 into DC power at its output 28.Next, a voltage-limiting linear regulator 30 limits the magnitude of theDC voltage produced by the bridge rectifier 22. The output of the linearrectifier 30 is applied to a switched-mode power supply (SMPS) 32 thatefficiently converts the input voltage to significantly lower outputvoltage (for example, 5.5 volts).

The output voltage of the SMPS 32 is applied to a battery chargerintegrated circuit (IC) 34 that manages the charging of the battery 38and delivers on its output 36 power to the load, which in thisembodiment is a computer or meter carried on the motorcycle.

A capacitor 40 is included at the output 36 of the battery charger 34.The battery-redundant capacitor 40 maintains charger output to the loadeven if the battery 38 is missing or malfunctioning. For example, in theevent that the meter includes a GPS, the location information providedby the GPS will still be available to the operator even if the batteryfails. It will be appreciated that for off-road motorcycles, preventingthe loss of this location information (via the battery-redundantcapacitance in the power supply) can be critically important.

FIG. 2 illustrates the high-current, high-voltage capability of thepower supply designed in accordance with the present invention. Inshort, this capability is achieved through the cooperative interactionof the linear regulator component or stage 30 and the SMPS stage 32. TheSMPS stage 32 cannot survive excessive input voltages, so the linearregulator stage 30 acts as a shield preventing the high voltage fromaffecting the SMPS. However, the linear regulator stage 30 cannottolerate the high load currents associated with the computer while it isdrawing from a high input voltage source. As shown in FIG. A2, theexemplary plot line 42 shows how, in the absence of the SMPS stage, thelinear regulator would fail at a relatively low input voltage of around14 volts.

Fortunately, the SMPS 32 protects the linear regulator 30 by reducingthe linear regulator's load current when the input voltage rises. Thisis illustrated in the plot line 44, which illustrates a considerablyhigher input-voltage limit (about 67 volts) for the linear regulator 30when coupled with the SMPS. The result is a power system that canoperate in an input-voltage environment that neither the linearregulator nor the SMPS could survive on their own.

(b) Memory Card Access

Current GPS devices that include readers for SD cards (a popular type ofnon-volatile memory cards) are manufactured with the SD card “buried”within the unit. Here, the term “buried” means that the connector orjack part of the reader in which the SD card is inserted is locatedunderneath the battery or otherwise enclosed inside of the unit so thatthe SD card is not readily accessible from outside the unit.

This conventional arrangement keeps the SD card and the associatedreader circuitry safe from water, dirt and dust, but prevents easyaccess by the user who may wish to quickly swap SD cards to acquiredifferent map information, etc., during, for example, an off-roadmotorcycle trip. Instead, most GPS units include an input/output port(typically a USB-type) that is exposed along a side of the unit forreceiving one end of a cable that is also connected to a computer foruploading and downloading data to the GPS device.

In the event that a meter device that includes a GPS component isintended to be permanently connected to a off-road motorcycle, ATV orother vehicle, using the exposed USB data port is impractical becauseone would need to have the GPS in the vicinity of a computer wheneverdata was to be transferred to or from the buried SD card. This isespecially impractical for off-road motorcyclists while they are out inremote locations.

The present invention provides a meter unit that includes a GPScomponent, and that is intended to be permanently mounted to amotorcycle or the like, rather than being temporarily clipped or latchedto a mount fixed on the motorcycle. Such temporary mounting permits theuser to easily move the GPS unit between the motorcycle and a personalcomputer for access to data transfers via a USB port. On the other hand,permanently mounting the meter unit as contemplated here reduces thelikelihood of theft of the unit, and secures the unit from beingdislodged because of extreme vibration or crash impact.

While being permanently mounted to the motorcycle, the unit provides theoperator with ready access to an exterior slot on the unit for insertionand removal of an SD card that is read by the unit for mapping and otherpurposes. The invention also addresses in a number of ways the potentialproblem of water or dust penetrating the slot.

In the embodiments described below, a micro SD card is discussed, but itis contemplated that SD cards of other, larger configurations could alsobe suitable for use with the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION: MEMORY CARD ACCESS

With reference to the figures (3-6) a motorcycle meter 120 includes asealed housing 122 and associated controls for calculating anddisplaying information to the user. The housing 122 may be formed of ahard, injection-molded plastic. The back of the housing may include agroup of two or more insulated-wires that extend from the housing at alocation such as shown at 124 in FIG. 5. The wires, which are notillustrated, enable electrical connection between the meter and thepower supply of the motorcycle to which the meter is mounted. Anypassage of such wires though the housing 122 are fully sealed againstwater and dust.

In the back of the housing 122 at one corner, there is defined aninterior compartment 126 in which is located a micro SD printed circuitassembly (SD PCA) 128. That compartment is hereafter referred to as theSD compartment 126.

As best shown in FIG. 5, the SD PCA 128 includes a circuit board 129 onone side of which is carried a jack 130. A micro SD card 132 fits intothe jack 130 to mate the card and jack's electrical contacts.Information can thus be transmitted to and from the card through theconductors of a flat, flexible cable (FFC) 134 that mates with a cableconnector 136 that is also carried on the circuit board 129 of the SDPCA 128.

Preferably, the SD PCA 128 comprises a complete SD card reader, and theinformation read from the reader is transmitted via the FFC 134 toanother, remote main circuit board as described more fully below.Alternatively, the SD compartment 126 might house only an SD card jackwith an FFC, such that the remaining components of the card readercircuit are carried on the remote, main circuit board.

The SD compartment 126 is normally sealed to prevent water infiltrationinto that compartment. Moreover, the SD compartment is configured to beseparate from a second, main compartment 140 in the housing 122. As willbe described, the FFC 134 passes from the SD compartment 126 to the maincompartment 140, but those two compartments are otherwise sealed fromone another so that no fluids will pass between them.

The interior of the SD compartment 126 is accessible to the user via aremovable cover 142 that generally comprises a piece of the exteriorwall of the housing 122 at the back corner, and is located over the SDcompartment (FIG. 5). The cover 142 is secured in place by fasteners 144that are threaded into bosses formed an interior partition 146 (FIG. 4)formed in the housing and that, among other things, separates the SDcompartment 126 from the main compartment 140.

The cover 142 is intended to be removed only in the event that the SDPCA 128 were to fail or otherwise need replacement, as explained morebelow. Moreover, the cover 142 is provided with a seal so that thejunction where the cover meets the remainder of the housing 122 (whenthe cover is fastened in place) is impenetrable by water. In oneembodiment, the seal 148 is comprised of an elastomeric material appliedaround the periphery of the cover and/or to the edge of the housingopening to which the cover 142 is joined. Any other access to thehousing interior, such as the access door 149 outlined in FIG. 5 issimilarly sealed.

As noted above, an advantage of the present invention is to provide theoperator with ready access to an exposed slot on the unit housing 122for insertion or removal of a micro SD card. To this end, a through slot150 is molded into the wall of the housing 122 to provide a path fromoutside of the housing into the SD compartment 126. The interior crosssection of the slot 150 generally conforms to that of a micro SD card.The SD PCA jack 130 is secured in the SD compartment so that the openingof the jack is immediately adjacent to and aligned with the slot 150. Amicro SD card 132 inserted through the slot will mate with the jack 130.

In a preferred embodiment, the circuit board 129 of the SD PCA is shapedwith opposing flanges or protrusions that have apertures formed throughthem. Each aperture is concentric with a fastener 144 so that thefasteners, in addition to fastening the cover 142 to the housing 122,also secure the circuit board 129 against the plastic bosses thatreceive the fasteners. As a result, the SD PCA 128 is securely held inplace inside the SD compartment 126 with the jack 130 aligned with theslot 150 as discussed above.

It is contemplated that an adhesive may be used in conjunction with orinstead of the fasteners to secure the SD PCA 128 in place.Alternatively, the housing interior can be shaped with features thatpermit the SD PCA to be snap-fit into place. Preferably, the techniquefor securing the SD PCA within the compartment is one that will allowthe user to remove and replace the SD PCA if need be, with simple toolsor by hand.

In order to prevent moisture or dust-laden air from entering the SDcompartment 126 through the slot 150, an elastomeric cap 152 isprovided. To secure the cap in place, the area of the housing exteriorwall around the slot 150 is recessed so that the outermost part of theslot 150 defines a rim 151 that protrudes from the recessed portion ofthe wall. The cap 152 is preferably formed of silicone and is sized tocompletely and snugly surround the rim 151 of the slot, as best shown inFIG. 4. In addition to the snug fit of the cap 152 over the slot rim151, the interior of the cap 152 includes one or more lips 154 that snapinto correspondingly shaped grooves formed in the slot rim 151 to thussecure the cap firmly in place so that only the user's deliberatemanipulation (and not, for example, vibrations during use of themotorcycle to which the unit 120 is attached) will permit the cap to beremoved to expose the slot 150 for access to the SD card 132.

In a preferred embodiment, the cap 152 is anchored to the housing 122 sothat it will not be misplaced or dropped when removed to permit accessto an SD card. In this regard, the cap 152 has an integrally moldedflexible arm 156 that terminates in a frustum-shaped wedge 158. A hole160 is formed in the cover 142 (see FIG. 6) and into which hole 160 thewedge 158 tightly fits to anchor the cap 152 to the cover. The wedge issized to seal the hole 160 against fluid passage through the hole intothe SD compartment 126.

As shown in FIG. 5, a groove 162 is formed in the outer surface of thecover 142 between the hole 160 and slot 150. The groove 162 is sized toreceive the arm 156 and thus seat the arm against the housing so thatany incidental abrasive force transverse to the arm will not betransferred to the cap 152 to pull the cap from the slot, which mightoccur in the absence of the seating groove 162.

The foregoing portion of the description describes an effective way ofproviding a user with ready access to an SD card, while protecting theSD compartment 126 against unwanted penetration of water or otherharmful fluids. If, for any reason, water penetrates the SD compartment126 (as, for example, when the user neglects to replace the cap 152during wet conditions), the present invention is designed to bothprotect the separate, main PCA of the meter from damage due to themoisture or dust that penetrates the SD compartment 126 and to permit auser to easily replace a damaged SD PCA if necessary. To this end, andas mentioned above, the SD compartment 126 is configured to be separatefrom the second, main compartment 140 in the housing, and sealed fromthat second, main compartment 140. On the other hand, the informationcarried by the micro SD card 132 is transmitted to the main circuitboard inside the main compartment 140 via the above-mentioned FFC 134,which passes from the SD compartment 126 to the main compartment 140 tointerconnect those two circuit boards.

With reference to FIG. 4, the main circuit board 164 is shown in crosssection to include on its underside a connector 166 that receives oneend of the FFC 134. The FFC 134, which appears in the figure in crosssection, follows a serpentine path from the connector 166 on the maincircuit board 164 to the connector 136 of the SD PCA 128.

An elongated passage 170 (shown in cross-sectional width in FIG. 4) isformed through the interior partition 146 between the SD compartment 126and the main compartment 140. The width of the slot 170 is narrowed atits center, thereby defining a rabbeted edge of the passage where thepassage 170 opens to the SD compartment 126 and to the main compartment140.

The passage 170, including the rabbeted edges, is filled with anelastomeric plug 172, preferably formed of a TPU (ThermoplasticPolyurethane) or a TPE (Thermoplastic Elastomer). In a preferredembodiment, the plug 172 is and extended part of a peripheral seal 174that seals a seam 176 in the housing 122. Preferably, the plug 172 andassociated seal 174, as well as all other housing seals, are provided aspart of the over-molding step of injection molding process. It iscontemplated, however, that a plug 172 could be separately provided, andmade with different (from the seals) material, such as silicone rubber.

The plug 172 is provided with a very narrow slit through which passesthe FFC 134 (FIG. 4). Preferably, the slit formed by a razor-blade-likeslice through the plug after the plug is formed. The slit in the plug issized so that the relatively larger (in cross section) FFC 134 can passthrough the slit, which forcibly expands the slit and thus compressesthe plug material to seal it against the FFC 134 at the slit.Accordingly, the plug 172 completely seals apart the SD compartment 126and the main compartment 140 at the passage 170 but permits electricaltransmissions (via the FFC 134) between those compartments.

Accordingly, in a situation where the SD compartment 126 may be floodedwith water (as may occur when the user neglects to replace the cap 152),that water is prevented from passing into the main compartment 140 anddamaging the main circuit board 164. In effect, the damage is containedin the SD compartment 126, which, as noted above, is designed to enablethe user to easily replace the damaged SD PCA.

(c) Accurate Track Data Logging

The demand for GPS-enabled vehicle instrumentation is growing. Inparticular, operators of off-road motorcycles and other small vehicleapplications desire the ability to create and maintain a record of theirtrips using global positioning technology. That record may include, forexample, geographic location coordinates captured by a data loggercomponent of the GPS. The recorded data is commonly referred to as“track data” in that it represents “tracks” of where the vehicle hastraveled. One use of such data might be to later superimpose the trackonto a computer-displayed 3D map for analysis.

Many GPS data loggers provide only a manual start and stop capability.This requires the operator to remember to start recording at thebeginning of a trip, to pause recording during stops, and halt recordingat the end of the trip. If the vehicle operators is not diligent inremembering to start and stop the data logger, the information will beincomplete (for example, in instances where the operator's “start”commands are missing).

Also, the captured data needs to be clean and accurate so that the userdoes not have to waste valuable time cleaning and editing the recordedtrack data in order to make use of the data.

Some existing GPS data loggers utilize GPS-determined speed to controlthe start and stop of data recording. This provides an automaticmechanism for the data logger control. However, GPS receivers have adifficult time discriminating a stopped vehicle from noise-inducedposition drift. To overcome this problem, the minimum GPS speedthreshold (for starting the data logger) is set at a high level, forexample, 25 MPH. This high threshold is problematic for many smallvehicle or off-road applications where the average speed may be lessthan 20 MPH.

Another approach to data logging is to continuously record track dataand rely on filtering algorithms to clean up any noisy data. Thisapproach leads to larger than necessary data files requiring additionalstorage memory. Since the filter algorithms work by eliminated many ofthe recorded data points, this approach also reduces the fidelity oraccuracy of the recorded track.

The present invention provides a simple and accurate approach to GPSdata logging.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION: ACCURATE TRACK DATA LOGGING

A system 220 for accurately logging GPS track data is depicted in thediagram of FIG. 7. The system may be incorporated into any GPS device.The GPS includes a user interface 222 that displays conventional GPSinformation and that supports manual or vocal control commands. In thisembodiment, the GPS unit is mounted to a vehicle such as an off-roadmotorcycle.

In data logger mode, the Central Processing Unit (CPU) 224 of the deviceacquires location data from the GPS receiver and stores the informationas track data in a suitable storage device, such as a micro SD card forlater access.

In accord with the present invention, the GPS device utilizesinformation acquired from vehicle sensors 232, 234, 236 as a means toascertain whether the vehicle is in motion. The sensor information,suitably collected and conditioned by the vehicle sensor acquisitionmodule 230, is provided as input to the CPU 224. In instances where thesensor information confirms that the vehicle is not moving, the locationinformation received via the GPS receiver 228 is ignored by the CPU(even though the location data may be changing due to noise-induceddrift). Where vehicle sensor information confirms that the vehicle isindeed in motion (without regard for a minimum-speed threshold, such as25 MPH as mentioned above), the track data will be recorded in thestorage device 226.

Since data is ignored (that is, not stored) at times when the vehiclesensor output confirms the vehicle is not moving, it will be appreciatedthat the result of keeping only the track data associated with a movingvehicle is an elegantly simple way of filtering (actually, avoiding thecollection of) noisy date, without requiring the data storage that wouldbe necessary if a filtering algorithm were employed. This also avoidsthe data loss that is common with the use of such algorithms asmentioned above.

In a preferred embodiment, one sensor 232 may indicate vehicle wheelspeed, while another may indicate engine RPM.

FIG. 8 is a high-level flow diagram of the accurate track data loggingemployed with the present invention. In a preferred embodiment, the datalogging operation commences (240) any time GPS position data isreceived. It is noteworthy here that the unit may be provided with auser accessible command for overriding the automatic collection of trackdata. For the purpose of describing this embodiment, however, theautomatic data logger is treated as operable.

If GPS data is received, the CPU 224 then queries the vehicle sensoracquisition module 230 to determine whether the vehicle (ie, wheel)speed is greater than zero. Preferably, the system also checks todetermine whether the engine RPM is greater than zero. If one or both ofthese sensors confirm that the vehicle is moving (242), the coincidentGPS positional data is recorded as track data (244) in the storagedevice 226. In short, the storage of GPS location data as track datamust be triggered by the presence of vehicle sensor information thatconfirms actual, coincidental movement of the vehicle. In the absence ofthe trigger, the data is discarded.

As mentioned above, the resultant data logged in this fashion does notrequire clean up or other post processing, but still provides a highlyaccurate reflection of the actual location traveled by the user.

(d) Handlebar Mount for a GPS Device

FIG. 9 depicts a prior art technique for mounting to a motorcyclehandlebar 320 a device such as a hand-held GPS 322. While suchapproaches tend to support the device near the handlebar grip withineasy viewing and reach of the user, the upwardly protruding nature ofthe mount (either near the grip or elsewhere on the handlebar) isproblematic because when the motorcycle skids or crashes, the devicecontacts the ground and is sheared off the handlebar, damaged or lost.

The present invention provides an mount that employs a single clamp tosecure a meter to a handlebar in a manner that supports the meter incantilever fashion, adjacent to the center of the handlebar and recessedrelative to the handlebar.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION: HANDLEBAR MOUNT FOR A GPS DEVICE

With reference to Figs. 10 and 13, the mount 324 of the presentinvention includes two primary components: a bracket 326 and a mountingplatform 328. The mount secures a GPS device 329 forward of and adjacentto the central portion 341 of a motorcycle handlebar 340 as shown inFIG. 10.

The bracket 326 has integrally formed on one end a clamp 330. The clamp330 is defined by a circular aperture 332, the diameter of which can bereduced by drawing together the two, spaced apart tabs 334 that form theoutermost end of the bracket. To this end, a threaded fastener 336 andnut is employed to draw the tabs 334 together with the handlebar 340extending through the aperture 332 (Figs 10 and 11).

The end of the bracket 326 opposite the clamp end includes an aperture342 (See FIG. 14) having a central axis that is parallel to the centralaxis of the clamp aperture 332. A threaded fastener 344 (FIG. 10)extends through the aperture 342 to fasten together the bracket 326 andplatform 328 as described more below.

The platform 328 is an elongated member and includes a generally planarmounting surface 346 (FIG. 13). That surface includes an array ofcountersunk holes 348 that receive similarly arrayed female-threadedbosses present on the back of the GPS device 329 that is secured by themount 324. Threaded fasteners (not shown) are passed from the undersideof the platform 328 (appearing in FIG. 15), through the holes 348 toengage the bosses on the back of the GPS device 329 to thereby securethat device to the mounting surface 346 of the platform 328.

A proximal end of the platform 328 is formed with an aperture 350 thatmatches the size of the aperture 342 formed in the bracket 326. Thefastener 344 mentioned above extends through both apertures 342, 350 sothat the threaded shaft of the fastener engages a nut (not shown) thatis trapped between a pair of features 352 that are molded in theunderside of the platform. When the fastener 344 is in place andtightened, the matching, raised, circular detent surfaces 356 that areformed on both the bracket 326 and platform 328 to surround the fastener344 mesh together (See FIG. 13). In this regard, the radially arranged,saw-tooth shaped ridges that form the detent surfaces 356 mesh to locktogether the platform 328 and bracket 326 so that the bracket extends,in cantilever fashion, adjacent to and parallel with the central portion341 of the handlebar 340.

It is noteworthy that the meshing detent surfaces 356 permit the user torotate the platform about the axis of the fastener 344 so that theplanar surface 346 of the platform can be tilted into a position thatprovides a user-selected, preferred viewing angle of any device carriedon the platform. In order to rotate the platform 328 relative to thebracket 326, the fastener is first loosened, so that the teeth on thefacing detent surfaces 356 disengage by an amount sufficient to permitthe rotation. The fastener 344 is thereafter tightened to again mesh thedetent surfaces 356 and lock the platform in the desired position.

With particular reference to Figs. 10, 11 and 12, the bracket 326 has agenerally “L” shape so that when clamped to the handlebar, the connectedplatform 328 is supported below the central portion 341 of thehandlebar. With most handlebars, this central portion 341 is relativelylower than the opposing, outer grip portions 343 of the handlebar. Thesegrip portions are most likely to impact the ground if the motorcycle iscrashed. On the other hand, the central portion 341 of the handlebar issomewhat recessed relative to the grip portions 343 and, as such, lesslikely to be impacted and damaged in a crash. Thus, locating theplatform 328 to extend adjacent to and slightly below the centralportion 341 of the handlebar 340 serves to protect from crashes the GPSdevice 329 that is mounted to the platform. Moreover, supporting thedevice at the center of the handlebar provides a desirable location foreasy viewing of the device by the motorcycle operator.

The cantilever-type mount approach employed here allows the rotationalvariation of the meter that it carries (for user-selected viewing angle)to be accomplished with a simple, single rotational control component(the meshing surfaces 356). The cantilever mounting permits thisrotation of the elongated platform (hence the meter) while also allowingthe platform to remain quite close to the handlebar. In addition,off-road motorcycles usually have a number plate or headlight centeredon but spaced forwardly of the handlebar. The compact mounting approachemployed here (that is, with the elongated platform immediately adjacentto handlebar) enables that otherwise vacant space between the handlebarand light to be exploited by locating (and thus protecting) the meterthere.

Also, it is not unusual for the very center portion of the handlebar(for example, in the vicinity of the bar clamps “C” depicted in FIG. 10)to be occupied with other objects, such as padding, that may prevent onefrom clamping a mount directly to that portion of the bar (that is,between the clamps “C”). It will be appreciated that the cantileversupport of the platform and off-center clamping described andillustrated above will allow the meter to be conveniently centeredrelative to the handlebar, without the need to clamp directly to thecenter of the bar.

During normal use, a meter 329 will be subjected to vibration that istransmitted from the component (handlebar) to which it is mounted. Thevibration, especially at higher frequencies, can damage and disable theinternal circuitry of the device. The cantilevered clamp and platformdesign provided here serves to dampen or filter out the higher frequencyvibrations so that they are not transmitted directly to the circuits inthe meter. The damping is primarily attributable to a slight deflectionof the cantilevered platform in response to vibration.

It will be appreciated that the just-noted deflection of thecantilevered platform is greater at the free end (the left end in FIG.13) of the platform 328 away from the clamp 326. Less deflection occurswhere the platform is connected to the bracket. In a preferredembodiment, the “handedness” of the mount 324 is considered with respectto the meter that it carries and with respect to the deflectionvariation just mentioned. Specifically, FIG. 10 depicts a “right-handed”mount that carries a meter having a joystick control “J” on the rightside of the meter. This control is considered to one that is frequentlyaccessed by a rider while the motorcycle is moving (and the mount/metervibrating as a consequence) and it requires more dexterity than, forexample, pushbutton controls on the meter. Since this joystick controlis located on the mount where the least deflection occurs, it is easierto accurately manipulate by user since the joystick is moving, as aresult of vibration, less than it would were it located on the left sideof the meter.

The invention claimed is:
 1. A memory card reader assembly for a device having a GPS component, comprising: a housing having an exterior wall and defining a first interior compartment and a second interior compartment; a jack for a memory card secured within the first compartment, the housing including a slot for enabling insertion of the memory card through the exterior wall and into the jack; a first sealing member movable into a sealing location for sealing the first compartment, including the slot, to prevent fluid entry into the first compartment; wherein the first compartment contains a memory card reader associated with the jack and an elongated, flat, flexible signal-conducting cable that extends from the jack in the first compartment and into the second compartment; and a compressible plug between the first and second compartments and including a slit through which passes the cable to enable signals to be conducted by the cable between those compartments, the plug being compressed against the cable thereby to prevent fluid in the first compartment from penetrating the second compartment in instances when liquid may have entered the first compartment such as when the first sealing member is out of the sealing location.
 2. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the first sealing member includes a removable cap that fits snugly over the slot with the memory card inserted in the jack thereby sealing the slot.
 3. The assembly of claim 2 including means for anchoring the cap to the housing.
 4. The assembly of claim 1 including a removable cover for providing sufficient access to the first compartment for replacing the memory card reader, the assembly being configured so that the second compartment is sealed from the first compartment irrespective of whether the cover is removed.
 5. A method of making a housing assembly for a GPS-enabled unit, comprising the steps of: forming a first compartment for containing a jack for a memory card reader; forming a slot through the housing to enable passage of the memory card from outside the unit into the jack in the first compartment; capping the slot with a member that can be moved to uncap the slot; forming a second compartment in the housing separate from the first compartment; and sealing the first and second compartments with a compressible plug so that fluid outside of the housing is prevented from penetrating into the first compartment and so that fluid that may enter the first compartment when the slot is uncapped is prevented from penetrating the second compartment; and electrically connecting together the first and second compartments with an elongated, flat, flexible cable that passes through a slit in the compressible plug such that the plug is compressed against the cable thereby retaining the sealed separation between those two compartments.
 6. The method of claim 5 including the step of covering the first compartment with a sealed, removable cover for accessing the interior of the first compartment without unsealing the sealed separation between the first and the second compartments. 